Stalwarts shine at Chepstow

THREE was the lucky number at Chepstow on Saturday for a number of stalwarts of the horse-racing scene.

Long- standing owner Terry Warner recorded his first treble on a day that was blessed with sunshine.

Successes for Lamb or Cod in the totepool.com Silver Trophy, former Cheltenham Festival winner Oiseau De Nuit and Pasco at Aintree on Saturday took his career tally to 297.

The latter’s trainer Colin Tizzard was also the recipient of three winning trophies with an across the card treble, while Philip Hobbs recorded his second ever one-two-three in the grade three feature hurdle at 4.15.

Warner, who is most famously known for his association with the ill-fated Rooster Booster, said: “It must be my lucky day! It has been wonderful.”

The owner’s bright yellow colours were forced in front on Lamb or Cod as he beat his two stablemates by two necks.

The pensioner hardly had time to catch his breath before Oiseau De Nuit lined up in the next, in which Nicholls and Walsh endured another disappointment with Tataniano.

It was their third favourite to have been sunk on the day, but at least French import Wonderful Charm did the business in the grade two Persian War novices’ hurdle.

Owned by Robin Geffen, who also has Kauto Star’s half-brother Kauto Stone, there was talk afterwards that the winner was definitely one for the future.

“We will look after him now and we might not run him until Christmas and let him acclimatise,” Nicholls said.

“He's a proper horse.”

Caroline Keevil paid tribute to injured jockey Ian Popham who helped her devise a plan to get Marshal Zhukov back to winning ways. And he did as he pleased in a first time tongue-tie in the 3.10.

“It has been a joint effort,” Keevil explained.

“Ian has helped us to settle him and he will be watching at home. The horse has been very buzzy and enthusiastic in the past.”

Colin Tizzard’s belief Masters Hill would need the run proved unfounded in the hotly contested novices' chase, which was the post-race thoughts of Tim Vaughan, whose Rev It Up chased him home.

“He can only improve. The jockey said he will stay forever,” Vaughan said.

David Pipe’s Royal Mile sent favourite backers home happy following a cheeky success in the last, outpointing the brave Thirtytwo Red.

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